A shocking story emerged out of northern Michigan in recent days when it was revealed that a young girl who was the subject of an attempted abduction was rescued by her slingshot-wielding teenage brother, as the Daily Mail reports.

The incident took place in Alpena Township, and the 17-year-old suspect is now in custody within a juvenile detention facility pending further proceedings. His name is being withheld, however, due to his age.

Frightening Scene Unfolds

According to Michigan State Police, the elementary-aged girl was hunting for mushrooms in a wooded area near her home when the would-be assailant appeared.

Described as sporting a “black mohawk” hairstyle, the teen male proceeded to cover the girl's mouth and attempted to drag her from the scene.

Incredibly, the girl's 13-year-old brother noticed what was happening from inside the family's residence, and immediately snapped into action to save the day.

The younger teen boy accessed his own slingshot and quickly sent projectiles toward the older boy's head and body, as the Mail explained, which, as Lieutenant John Grimshaw of the Michigan State Police Alpena Post explained, struck him in multiple places and “caused him to let go.”

Close Call

The putative kidnapper fled the scene after he was hit with the flying objects and was later found hiding at a gas station, and according to Grimshaw, it's a good thing that he did, considering what he had planned for the girl.

Grimshaw indicated that the suspect ultimately confessed that he had the intention of severely beating the girl once he obtained control over her.

As such, the girl's brother is being hailed as a hero, not just for saving his sister, but also for helping law enforcement track down the wannabe perpetrator.

“What he did also helped us to identify who the suspect was, because obviously, he had injuries from getting hit with a slingshot,” the police lieutenant noted.

“Fight, Fight”

In the wake of the frightening occurrence, Grimshaw offered the public some helpful advice about thwarting an attack such as the one attempted on the young girl at issue, as 9 and 10 News in northern Michigan reported.

“Fight, fight, do everything you can,” Grimshaw began.

Suggesting that a potential victim bite an attacker's hand if one is being held over their mouth, Grimshaw added that it can also be helpful to “stomp on their feet, kick them in the shin, do whatever you can to fight.”

“And then if your mouth is free, scream as loud as you possibly can,” Grimshaw concluded.

“Need to Pay Attention”

Gary Quintel, an uncle of the 8-year-old girl, posted to Facebook in the aftermath of the incident and emphasized the importance of closely monitoring kids while they are outside, as the Mail noted.

Quintel declared, “our kids are too precious to let somebody try to take them...when your kids are outside playing, we really need to pay attention to what they're doing and who's around them.”

“I'm very proud of my nephew, and I know my niece [is] traumatized, and I'm sending prayers for her,” Quintel added.

According to local authorities, the juvenile suspect has been arraigned on single counts of attempted kidnapping/child enticement, attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and of assault and battery respectively. The accused assailant’s next court date is set for May 17.